Whenuakura Bridge.

The Whenuakura bridge crosses the Whenuakura River between Rangikura and Patea, on the Marton-New Plymouth section.

The old bridge was originally constructed of native timber in about the year 1880, and consisted of two 60ft. trusses of nine 20ft. beam spans all carried on high timber piers. This bridge was carried away in a heavy flood in January, 1922, and the present emergency structure, consisting of 40ft. plate girders on high timber piers, was erected. It was not possible to consider the erection of a permanent bridge at that time owing to the necessity of restoring communication as rapidly as possible. The temporary construction has sufficed to carry traffic at reduced speed in the meantime, but heavy scout

Massive Concrete Piers.
Another view of the new Whenuakura bridge shewing the foundation work nearing completion.

page 37 round the piers has necessitated constant strengthening of the foundations, and the construction of a new bridge, with ample waterway, could not be delayed any longer.

The new bridge will have a main steel truss span of 142ft. and three 60ft. steel plate girder spans. The main piers will be constructed by sinking 10ft. diameter reinforced concrete cylinders and driving piles inside the cylinders. The shore pier at the south end is to be of mass concrete also on a piled foundation, while the abutments are a combination of mass concrete and reinforced concrete construction, piling being dispensed with, and the foundation load distributed over a large area by means of a reinforced concrete raft.

The formation of the approaches to the new bridge has been completed, and the contractors for the construction of the bridge, Messrs. Bird and Codling, are making good progress with the foundation work, being now ready to proceed with the erection of the superstructure.